Sectional shelving.



W. TIETZ, DBOD.

n. o. muuu., annual.

SEOTIONAL BHBLVIIG.

APPLxouIox FILED nl. 1u. 1912.

Patented may 27, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

) vwento'o lfd/W 7203,

w. TIETZ, DEG'D. l. G. DASHIELL, OUBATOB.

'SEGTIONAL SHBLVING.

APPLICATION FILED 1,511.19, 1912.

W. TIETZ, DEGD.

n. G. DASHIBLL. oUnA'ron.

SECTIONAL SHELVING.

1 ArrLxonIox rmin JAN.19.1912. Patented May 27 1913 .0 .v 1 y anw/wbrfri/fm 722/5,

W. TIETZ, DECD.

a. s. DASHIELL, UURATOR SBGTIONAL SHELVING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.19,1912.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT onirica.

WILLIAM TIETZ, OF RICHMOND, VIRGrINIA;l R.` GRAYSON DASHIELL CURATOR 0FTHE ESTATE OF SAID WILLIAM TIETZ, DECEASED.

SECTIONAL SHELVING.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patent ed Haag.' 27, 'lili Application filed January 19, 1912. SerialNo. 872,9?1.

To all ywlw/u. it may concern Be it known that I, limitant T11-frz, acitiifen of the United States7 residing at Richmond, in the county ofHenrico and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Sectional Shelving, of which the following is a Specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sectional shelving and itsleading object is to provide a shelving construction comprising aplurality of units capable of indefinite multiplication and connectedtogether by improved locking joints.

Another object of the invention is to pro- -vide a sectional shelvinghaving vertical supporting members prpvided with locking flanges and aback panel having tlanges adapted to interlock with said lockingflanges. A

Another object of the invention is to provide a shelving constructionincluding a plurality of vertical front supporting members .havingconverging locking lianges and a plurality of front members havinggrooves adapted to slidably interlock with the locking timiges.A

Another object of the invention is to provide a shelving constructionincluding vertical supporting members, shelf sections supported therebyand improved means for locking the adjacent ends of said shelf sections.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved cornerlocking means for tying the end panels to the back and front members.

.A still further object of the invention is to provide improved meansfor supporting the shelf sections in adjustablepositions.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists incertain combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts clearlydescribed in tne following specification and clearly illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which'.-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved shelving construction; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Eig. 3is a vertical sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is avertical longitudinal view taken .through the central part of the cons irig. a detail view on ai tart-iv in elevation and i e. showing the trackand :e 'sf'.wig. is a plan van "annerf Fig. (i

is a perspecg1^- 5 t of one if the end lpanels; Fig. 7 is .t etaithorizontal sectional view showing one of the corner locking bars; Fig.is a detail elevation of one of the rear corner locking bars; Fig. 9 isa detail enlarged section thereof; Fig. 10 is a detail perspective viewof one of the locking arms carried by the end Panel; Fig.`11 is a detailsectional view showing one of the rocking elements secured to the. shelfsections; Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view showing holding lugs of oneof the horizontal shelf supportingr sections or mem* bers; Fig. 13 is adetail sectional view showmg one of the locking pins; Fig. 13 is aperspective view of one of the locking pins; Fig. 14 is a detailvertical sectional view showing the upper tracks for the sliding doors;Fig. 15 is a bottom` plan view show- Fig 19 is a detail verticalSectional View of one of the stationary vertical members of the shellladjusting` construction shown in Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is a detailperspective view of a shelf brace; Fig. 21 is a vertical sectional viewof a bracket; Fig. 22 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 23 is al detailview ofthe upper end of one of the members. of the bracket constructionshown in Figs.v21 and 22: Fig. 24 is a detail horizontal sectional view'showing a modified form of one of the front supporting members; and,Fig.

25 is a detail vertical sectional view`taken' on line 25 25 of Fig.4;Fig. 26 is a de tail plan view partly in section showing a modifiedshelf section tie.

'In the accompanyingl drawings I have illustrated a section'al `shelvingconstruction cdmi series f of Thisy member is shown to be formed ofwood. or like material. and is provided w1th two longitudinal grooves a.which are arranged in outwardly divcrg ing relation. and which aieadapted to interlock with the outwardly converging locking flanges 6 ofthe supporting lia r or member 7. This member or har is formed of foldedSheet metal to provide an inner contacting pair of sides 8, which areformed with a vertically spaced openings 9. through which the lockingpins 10 (not shown) are adapted to be passed for holding the horizontalshelf supporting members 11.

The horizontal shelf supporting members 11 are formed of foldedxsheetmetal to provide sockets 12 and angular flanges 13. on which the woodenor other shelf sections are disposed. The flanges 13 are stamped toprovide vertical locking lugs or tongues 14, which are disposed incontacting pairs, as shown in sect-ion in Fig. 12 and in plan in Fig. 2.Thev intermediate horizontal shelf supporting members 11 are connectedat their rear ends to the vertical supporting member or bar 15, which is`formed of folded sheet metal to provide a shelf supporting portion 16and inwardly curved flanges 17, the edges of which are arranged inconfronting relation and are adapted to interlock with the inner ends ofthe back panels 18 and 1S). The .inner ends of said back panels areformed with hook flanges 20, which slidably interlock with the curvedflanges 17, as shown in Fig. 2, in section. The outer ends of' said backpanels 18 and 19 are formed with similar hook flanges 21, which slidablyinterlock with the inwardly curved flanges 22 of the rear end cornersupporting bars or members 23. The end corner bars or members 3 are alsoformed of folded sheet metal and are shaped to provide an inwardlyprojecting shelf supporting portion 24 and a lateral hook flange 25, thecentral portion of which is flattened to provide a longitudinal tongue26, which is adapted to slidahlv fit in the vertically disposed endlocated groove 27 of the lend panel 28. The front portions of the endpanels 2S are held in locked relation by the front corner bars orsupporting members 29, which are also formed of folded sheet metal andare shaped to provide outer hook flanges 30, the central portions ofwhich are flattened to form tongues S1, which are adapted to tit in thegrooves 32 of the end panels, like the tongues :250 of the rear cori nerbars 23. The front corner supporting bars or members 29 are furtherformed with an inwardl inclined loc-kin flange 33, offset from e shelfsupporting portions 34 thereof. and disposed in convergino' relation tothe inclined flanges 35, whic extend from the tongues 31. The lockingflanges R5 are formed, as well as the locking flan es 25 of the rearcorner bars 23, with vertically spaced slots 3G, which are adapted torbceive the locking arms or lugs 37 carried by thc end panels 2S. whichare shown in Figs. 6 and 10 in perspective. The arms or lugs il? areformed with notches` 89 which re ceive the lower edge portions of theslots 36. as shown in plan in Fig. 7. The end panels 23 are pro-videdwith' transverse cleats 40, which carry small arms 41, which are formedwith openings 42. which are adapted to receive the lugs or pins of theend shelf supporting members 11.

Vertical wooden bars or members 43, which are formed with convergingslots, are

interlocked with the corner bar flanges 33 and 35. Bottom shelf sectionstt are arranged hetween the central or intermediate supporting bars 7and 15 and the end bars, the front edge portions of said bottom shelfsections being extended to lic in the same plane as the front faces ofthe front mem bers 5`and 43. Top shelf sections 45 are likewise arrangedbetween said central or intermediate bars and the corner bars.

The front upper portions of` the lower shelf sections 44 are providedwith sliding door tracks 4G, and the top shelf sections are providedwith sliding door tracks 47. Slidin doors` 48 operate on said tracks 46and 47. A view of the track construction is shown in section in Fig. 14.Each track consists of .fr strip of sheet metal which is folded toprovide U-shaped trackl portions 49 which arc held spaced apart by acentral arched connecting portion 49. By this arrangement a single metalstrip forms two independent door tracks and a single row of fasteners orscrews extended through said central portion 49 will securely hold thetwo tracks. In place of wheels I employ runners 50, which are fixed tothe doors. Each of these runners consists of a metal strip formed toprovide a longitudinal channel 51 and lateral flanges Each runner isprovided with a central arch 53 which provides a minimum contact surfacefor engagementwith the track on which it operates. 'Each runner isfurther formed .with a longitudinal slot 54 located in one end portionthereof and which interlocks with a screw 5l secured to the door. The

opposite end portion of the runner is pro' formed into springY coi-ls5t) which termihate in biting prongs 57. which are adapted to be pressedinto the side wall of the channel formed in the upper and lower edges ofeach door, thereby lmsing the runner securely in place. By pressing thecoils 56 toward each other the biting prongs 57 may be disengaged fron'ithe side walls of the door channels and the door easily removed. Themanner in which the runners iontict with the door tracks is shown insection in Figs. 5 and 1l and in elevation in Fig. 5.

53 designates a glass bearing peint.

r`he shelf sections are formed with re- 58 located in the end portionstlieref of and which receive the (lished or concaved langest) of thelocking members G0 which are held in position by a single screw 61. Byforming the flanges Dit concave biting edges 59 are provided which areadapted to bite into the walls of the recesses 58. The locking membersfor the upper shelves are shown in Fig. 11 and in Fig. 4 and are ofangular de ign, while the locking members for the intermediate shelfsections and the lower shelf sectionsV are shown in Fig. 12 and are notangular.A The shelf supporting members 11 are held in adjusted positionby means of locking pins or oblong keys 62 which are provided with heads62 having recesses G2 to receive the point of a screw driver or likeinstrument whereby pins can be readily lifted out of place. The pins fitsnuglivv in the oblong openings 9 formed in the inwardly projecting suport-ing portions of the vertical front. an rear bars 7 and 15, andslidingly supporting Athe structure against relative movement.

In order to securely unite the adjacent edges of the shelf -sectionsarched bridge plates 623 are provided, these bridge plates ieing held inplace by fastening devices which extend into the sockets formed by thehorizontal shelf supporting sections. Two fornis of fastening ldevicesare einployed, one form is illustrated in the central portion of Fig. 4wherein a' screw bolt 64 extends through the socket of the horizontal`shelf supporting section 1] and is secured in place by a nut 65. Theother forni is illustrated in the lower portion of the saine 'figure andcomprises an upper and a lower screw bolt 66 which are held in clampingrelation by Ameans of a connecting female screw 67.

In order tostrengthen the rear panels 1S) without increasing the amountof material usually required by corrugating. I form said panels with aseries of parallel slots and off-v The wooden front. bars` or iucnibcrs5 may be dispensed with and the front` supporting members 7 and loforint-d with interlocked front. flanges tit) and 70. the interlockingbeing preferably etl'ectcd by curving the edge porti-ons of the: flangesto provide engaging hooks. as shown in section in Fig. Q4.

In Figs. 15. lt and 17 means for 'securely uniting the engaging edgeportions of shelf sections and of adjusting tli'e elevation of the shelfsections are shown. In this. construction. a stationary inem-ber 71 isprovided. this member being forinedli'fn'ovide three channels. The wallof the central channel 72 forms the means for securingr the member to asuitable support and is provroe'd with openings to receive screws orother fasteners. The central walls of the channels on either side of thechannel are provided with vertically spaced openings 73.

the openings being arranged in horizontal 4alinenient` The central wall72 is provided with an offset. eye 74 which is engaged by a tongue 75carried by the adjustin member and tie 76. The adjusting member and tie76 is provided with angular flanges 77' which are adapted-to be fittedsnugly in grooves formed in the underside ofthe Shelf sections78, asshown in section in Fig. 16. The adjusting and tie member 76 is formedwith longitudinally spaced eyes 79, which are offset to provide guidesfor the arms 80 of the latch 81. This latch is preferably formed ot wireand its central portion is contracted to' forni a handle 82. which isoffset` from theel-ins 8O so as to'be readily grasped. Th latch 81 isprovided with an angular portion 83 forming a stop which4 is adapted toengage a stop 84 carried by the adjusting nieinber or plate 76.l AThecent-ral portion of said adjusting` member or plate 76 is formed with achannel and the central wall of said channel is provided with smallrecesses 85in which the inturncd a'rins oi' portions of the latch'81 areadapted to snap so as to hold said latch in its locking position. Theterminals of the arms 8O are adapted to project through `tht openings 73and the stationary member 71. The plate 7G is furtherformed with angulararms 87 which are formed to provide hooks 88 adapted to interlock withthe lower edges of said openings 73 forinedin the-stationary members 71,as shown in Fig. 17. A joint plate 89 bridges the'upper edge portions ofthe shelf sections 78 and is-suitably secured thereto and is providedwith a hook 90 on its iiner end which is adapted to interlock with thestationary member 71. The hooks 88 are .adapted to prevent the shelfsections 78 frn dropping and the'latch 81 is adapted to hold said hooks88 in locked position. A. brace 91 is secured to one ofthe sections 78and is formed with an angular upstanding arm having an offset hook 92adapted to interlock with the stationary member 71, as shown in Figs. 16and 17. The plate 76 is held in locked relation with the shelf sectionsby means of pivoted plates or latches 93 which are adapted to swing oversaid plate and prevent thedisplacement of the embedded flanges 77.

Fig. 18 shows a modifled form of the shelf supporting and adjustingmeans, in which yend supporting members 94 are pro vided, said membersbeing of similar design to the members 71 with the exception that. theopenings therein are shaped differently, the central wall of the centralchannel hav ing a series of offset. tapering sockets 95- which areadapted to receive the locking tongues 96 adjustable in the centralchannel 97 of t-he tie plate 98. The central wall of the channel 97 isprovided with longitudinal slots 99 located near the ends thereof andthe tongues 96 are provided with pins 100 which slidably extendthrough'said slots. The plate or member 98 'is provided withlongitudinally spaced eyes 101 which form guides for thc side arms 10i!of the latches 103. The ends of the side arms 109 are bent to providestops 102 which are adapted to Abe held in adjusted positions in theopen ings 104. Thisarrangement permits of a relative movement betweenthe en d supports and the shelves and avoids spilling of the contents ofthe shelves should the joints bcl tween the end supports and the shelvesbe come very wide.

In Figs. 21, Q2. and an adjustable bracket construction is showncomprising a stationary supporting member 105, which is formed with aseries of vertically spaced openings 106 arranged in horizontal alinement- The member 105 is secured in place by screws or fastening meansextended through the central vportion thereof. The bracket consists ofan angular bracket member 107 which has its upper horizontal leg bracedto its lower vertical leg by a brace rod 108. The vertical leg of thebracket member 107 provided with rearwardly offset tongues 109 which areadapted to removably fit in the openings 106 and hold said bracket invarious .positions upon the support 105. K

The stationary member 71 and the member 105fmay be formed Witha singlevertical series of openings instead of a double vertical series, if suchconstruction is found desirable.

Fig. 26 shows a modified ,tie for locking two shelf sections together.This tie con said flanges.

A sectional shelving construction in pluding vertical supporting barsformed of folded sheet metal and adapted to support shelves and formedwith outvvardlv7 converging locking flanges and facing members havingslots interlocking with said flanges.

3. A sectional shelving construction including vertical supporting barsformed of folded sheet inetal to provide outwardly converging lockingflanges and groovcd facing strips slidablv interlocked with saidflanges.

4. A shelving construction comprising vertical supporting bars adaptedto support shelves and formed of folded sheet metal to provide lockingflanges and tongues. facing strips intel-locked Y end panels interloclndwith said tongues.v

5. A sectional shelving construction including vertical bars adapted tosupport shelves and formed of sheet metal folded to provide inturnedllangcs, one ol' said flanges beingr formed to provide a tongue andpanels having hook flanges interlocking with a part of said inturnedflanges.

6. A sectional shelving construction comprising vertical supporting barsprovided with means tot' adjustahlv supporting shelves und t'oinicd withtongues. panels having grooves to receive said tongues and locking armsinterlocking with said bars.

7. A sectional shelving construction comprising vertical supportingbars` formed from folded sheet :netal to provide inwardly extendingshelf-supporting portions'7 and shelf sections arranged on said portionswith their ends in adjacent position and securedin locked engagement toeach other.

8. A sectional shelving construction in- `cluding shelf supportingmeans. independent shelf sections arranged on shelf supporting means andintcrlocked therewith an'd bridge plates holding said sections ininterlocked relation ivith said supporting means.

9. A sectional shelving construction including shelf supporting means.shelf scctions arranged on said supporting means with ends iuconfronting relation `and intel-locked witfi said supporting means andplates bridgii g said confronting ends and secured to said supportingmeans'.

10. A sectional shelving construction comprising vertical supportingbars, horiivith said flanges and zontal shelf supporting bars secured tosaid vertical supporting bars and provided with upstanding lockmg lugsand shelf sections having locking lugs formed with openings to receivethe tirstlocking lugs and to h'old said sections into interloclredrelation with' the shelf supporting bars.

'11. A shelving construction including vertical supporting bars formedof folded sheet metal to provide inwardly projecting shelf supportingportions and having confronting hook flanges and hack panels having hookflanges slidably interlocking with said first hook flanges.

12. A shelving construction including shelf sections having recessesnear their end portions, supports for said'shelf sections havingconnecting pins, and concaved convided with means interlocking with saidpins. the edges of said plates being adapted to bite into the wallsofthe recesses.

13. A supporting bar for shelving conruction consisting of sheet metalfolded to provide shelf-supporting portions and ilanges extendinglaterally thereof' .si terinitiating in interlocking hooks di,k wd onflic front side thereof.

14. A shelving construction (ainsi.l of vertical supporting bars andhoi... vwal supporting bars connected thereto, shi" tions mounted uponsaid horizontal su?,l il ing bars with their inner ends disposiconfronting relation, means interlochi.Jt said confronting ends to theadjacent snp portingy bars. and means bridging said cony fronting endsand secured to said adjacent supporting bars.

15. A shelving construction ,including a plurality of verticalsupporting bars having inwardly projecting flattened portions, andoutwardly convergingl locking flanges and a plurality of horizontal'bars having hifurcated ends straddling said flattened ons and secured tosaid ici ,ical sup hars.

shelving construction consist f i', Y, .sav of vertical bars havinginve1 .1g llattened shelf-supporting mi outwardl converging leciti aplura ity of horizontal sup lll 's inte t in cross section and securedin interlocking relationwiththe flattened pol ons of said verticalbars.Y

17. A shelving construction including vertical supporting bars andhorizontal bars detachably connected therewith and holding said verticalbars in s aced relation, the horizontal bars being ormed to providelongitudinal sockets and lateral shelf supporting flanges, said flangesbeing spaced from each other, shelf sections havlng their :nds locked tosaid horizontal bars, arched plates bridging the joints between saidsections, and fastening devices extending through said plates andthrough the sockets and secured tosaid horizontal bars. i" 1.8. Ashelving construction including vervox plates disposed in the recessesand proi s. formed of sheet metal folded l tical and horizontalsupporting bars connected in spaced relation, the horizontal supportingbars being formed of sheet metal and folded to provide lateral shelfsupporting flanges, portions of said flanges being formed with'verticalpins, and shelves having their ends disposed on said flanges.

19. A shelving tie consisting of a plate having vertical longitudinalflanges adapted to be fitted in groovesformed on the under face of theshelf sections to bridge the joint between the engaging edge portions ofthe sections, and means for holding said flanges in locked osition.

Q0. A 's elf tie consisting of a substair tially U-shaped plate adaptedto bridge the joint between engaging shelf sections, the verticalflanges of said plate being adapted to be snugly fitted in groovesformed on th. under-side of ine shelf sections` and latches pivoted tosaid shelf sections and adapted to engage the horizontal flanges of theplate to hold the vertical anges in said sections.

2l. A shelf tie consisting of a. plate having vert-ical portions, shelfsections having slots located near the edges thereof to re ceive saidvertical portions and latches pivoted to said shelf sections for holdingsaid vertical portions in said slots.

n9.2; In combination, a tie plate adapted to 95 bridge the joint betweenthe engaging shelf sections and to hold the sections in locked relation,a latch slidable on said plate for adjusting the elevation of the shelfsections and a stationary member coperatin with 100 said latch and plateto support said: shelf sections.

2 3. In combination, a )late adaptedto bridge the joint between t eengaging shelf sections and to be secured to said sections, 105 a latchslidably connected with said shelf and provided with an arm adapted tobe moved outwardly of said plate, and a stationary member having anopening to'rc' ceivc said arm. y

24. In combination, a plate adapted to be secured to a shelf andprovided with longi azdinally spaced eyes and :.1 termini@ hook flange,a alatch having `#idc arms slidahle through said eyes and outwardly ofthe 115 outer end of said plate, and a stationary member having an eyeto receive the hook flange and openings to receive the ends of the latcharms.

25. In combination, a. 'plate adapted tok 120 be secured to a shelf, alatch having side arms slidahle on said plate. a supporting hookextending fronr one end of said plate, and a supporting member havingspaced channels the central walls of which are pro- 125 vided withopenings to receive the ends of said arms and having an eye to receivethe supporting hook.

26. In combination, a stationary shelf supporting member formed of sheetmetal 130 to provide spaced channels the central walls of which areformed with vertical spaced openings, adjusting means adapted to lockengaging shelf ends and coperating with said openings in said stationarymember to support a shelf. an arched bridge plate secured at the joint',of said sections and having hook interlocking with said stationarysupporting memben Q7. In combination, stationary shelf supports, andlate secured to and adapted to support a sielf on said stationarysupports and to permit of a relative movement between the shelf and saidsupports, and means carried by the plate and cooperating with saidstationary member to lock said supporting means.

Q8. In combination, a stationary member liaying'a plurality ofvertically spaced sockets, a plate adapted to be secured to a shelf, atongue adjustable on said plate and adapted to be inserted in saidsockets, and a latch carried by said plate adapted to engage saidstationary member.

29. In combination, stationary shelf supporting members, a plate adaptedto be Secured to a shelf, latches slidable upon said plate and havingangular ends adapted to be connected with said supporting members, andtongues slidable upon said plate and adapted to be connected to saidstationar)Y members.

In testimony whereof I aiIX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM TIETZ. Iitnesses 2 E. EDMoNsaoN, Jr., Gonny E. BEMIS.

